Naidu asks officials to examine roads

Hyderabad, January 5: AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today called for immediate assessment of the status of roads in the State.

Speaking in a review meeting on road grid with R&B and Panchayat Raj officials, the Chief Minister directed them to study the current and future traffic volume in the State and plan for single, double, four-lane roads. He also directed for mapping of roads through GPS and asked the officials as to why they could not complete mapping in three districts. “Lack of coordination between the departments cannot be cited as a reason for delay in carrying out works, he said.

Chandrababu Naidu recalled that during his previous administration, he had appointed one Subbirami Reddy as a special officer to assess the quality of roads. Advising the officials to chalk out a plan to connect all the villages, the Chief Minister said multiple-route connectivity and village-to-village connectivity should be given priority. He also asked them to prepare a report on the finance needed for Rough Road Maintenance (RRM).

Stressing the need for beautification of roads at the earliest, he said the step would bring down road accident rate. Even road repairs have to be carried out immediately, he added. Proper signboards, streetlights and planting of trees should be taken up,” he said. The Police, R&B and Panchayat Raj department should study accident-prone areas and suggest measures to bring down the accident rate, he suggested. In the areas where there are land acquisition problems for National Highways, the Chief Minister asked the departments to consult district Collector and sort them out as soon as possible. He suggested that the officials take up construction of water conservation structures near causeway bridges. Given that most complaints received in the State are regarding bad roads and potholes, the Chief Minister said officials should work in a way that people look up to the department for laying quality roads in the New Year.